Letter-file.



llivrrn STATES XVILLIAM MACGOIVAN, OF ARDROSSAN, SCOTLAND.

LETTER-FILE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 719,350, dated January 27, 1903.

Application filed March 11, 1902- Serial No. 97,754. (No model.

1'0 aZZ whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM MACGOWAN, marine surveyor, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of Ardrossan,Ayrshire, Scotland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in LetterFiles, (for which I have made application for a patent in Great Britain, No. 18,047, dated the 10th of September, 1901,) of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are improvements in letter-files which will afford a convenient method of keeping letters or other documents alphabetically arranged and so that they are capable of instant reference as required.

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a letter-file constructed in accordance with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side view of same. Fig. 3 is a back view of the wire frame and spring arrangement at the upper part of the letter-file.

In carrying into practice the improvements of this invention the letter-file consists, essentially, of a number of separate sheets 1 of stout paper, parchment, or any suitable flexible material imposed one above the other, the top sheet 2 being of stouter material, forming a cover and retained in position as will be'described. The upper sheet or cover 2 is strengthened at its upper or free end by a. thin sheet 3 of tin or other metal or mate rial clamped or otherwise secured to it. This sheet of metal is marked with the letters of the alphabet and is formed as a plate extending and clamped over the upper edge of the sheet and has several parts i projecting downward toward the center of the sheet, which parts are corrugated or formed with ridges. Projecting tabs 5 are secured to each sheet, or formed in one with each sheet, of the series 1, of disk form, as shown, and each is marked with a letter of the alphabet for the purpose of distinguishing and raising the desired sheet under which the letter is to be placed or to be consulted and also for the purpose of enabling these alphabeticallymarked tabs to be readily manipulated by seizing with the thumb and fingers in an ordinary manner. These alphabetically-marked tabs are secured to the sheets and arranged in a stepped manner in order that the whole alphabet be shown of a reasonable size. When the strengthening metal sheet 3 of outer sheet 2, or the sheet 2 itself, is marked with the letters of the alphabet, these would be placed so as to be opposite to or coincide with the letters on the tabs, as shown. To securely hold the series of sheets 1 thus fitted with tabs and the outer sheet 2, two holes are formed near their lower edges, where they may be reinforced by perforated disks of paper, cloth, leather, or other material, and the sheets are placed on two wires 7, fitted to the wooden or other sole plate 8, supporting the whole. These two wires 7 are bent at right angles and made to swivel on the soleplate, so that their ends may engage with one another, being angled or beveled for this purpose and forming,with the sole-plate S,a frame of rectangular form. After the sheets are placed on the wires the two ends can be made to engage by swiveling each wire toward the other. A small rubber ring 6 is tightly fitted on each perpendicular arm of this wire frame 7 above cover 2 when in place for the purpose of pressing down and holding sheets and contents in compression. The lower edge of the cover 2 is also reinforced by a thin sheet 9 of metal clamped to it and perforated with two holes for the Wires 7. The file is thus secured to the sole-plate 8, and this is fitted at its upper end with a casing 10, formed with an eye by which the file may be hung up, within which the ends of a wire frame 11 enter by elongated holes in the ends of casing, where they are bent, as shown, and the ends connected by a sleeve and engage with reaction springs 12 within. The wire frame is also bent outside of casing to form cams 13 to engage with projecting parts of the casing 10, so that the frame may be held up by the action of the spring while letters are being inserted or pressed normally down on the top of the file by the action of the springs 12. When pressed down on the top of the file, the cross-bar 14 of the frame 11 will lie on the corrugated parts 4: of the strengthening-sheet 3 of metal, already described. The wire frame is also bent at each side in loop form at 15 for the purpose of entering slots in the sole-plate 8, by which means letters or other documents are prevented from falling out sidewise from IOC between the sheets of the file. India-rubber studs 28 are secured to the base-plate near each corner.

I claim as my invention 1. A letter-file comprising a flat base-plate having two upright wires near one edge, each swiveled at its lower end to the base-plate, the upper free ends of the wires being bent and beveled at their outer ends and adapted to be turned into position with the bent ends parallel to receive letters, in combination with a sheet having two perforations near its edge, said sheet adapted to be placed with its two perforations on the two hooked ends in their parallel position and slid along toward the swiveled ends, whereby on placing the hooked ends in line with each other the sheet will be secured in position on the upright wires, substantially as described.

2. A letter-file comprising a base-plate, sheets secured thereto,a pivoted frame mounted on the upper face and at one end of the base-plate, looped parts to said frame adapted to extend past the sheets at their outer edges at right angles, whereby the sidewise motion in g a reinforced metal part,with corrugations,

in combination with a spring-pressed frame, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM MACGOWAN.

Witnesses: I

R. O. THOMSON, WM. RUTHERFORD. 

